Definition, synonyms and related words
plural of animal
"The local shelter is full of stray animals looking for a forever home."
In plain English: Animals are living creatures that can move around and usually need to eat food to survive.
"The local zoo has many different animals from around the world."
Usage: Use "animals" only after mentioning or implying multiple creatures to avoid sounding unnatural when referring to just one. It serves strictly as the plural form of "animal," so do not use it to describe a single being.
Derived from Latin animalis, this term originally meant "that which breathes" or "living being." It entered English in the late 14th century to distinguish living creatures from plants and minerals.